Emily Jones
Staff Writer
Unlike many high school students who focus on becoming legal drivers, freshman Logan McFarlane is pursuing a different kind of license – one for flying.
The fourteen-year-old aviator-in-training plans to get his pilot’s license at the youngest possible age, 17. He will join the approximately .02 percent of American teenagers who have completed 40 hours of flight and passed the test, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
“I’ve always had an interest (in flying), and it’s something I want to pursue a career in when I’m older,” said McFarlane.
To achieve this lofty dream, McFarlane has been training since January, completing about 12 hours of flying with air instructor Rhett Boeger of Attitude Aviation, a flight training center located at Livermore Airport.
“Logan McFarlane is almost halfway through his training for a private license,” said Boeger. “He is picking up really fast.”
After two weeks of ground training, McFarlane was prepared to fly at about 100 mph. He flies an American Citabria 100, a small plane with two wheels in the front and one in the back, which is harder to land, said McFarlane.
“I like the challenge, but flying’s actually not as hard as you would think once you learn all the tricks to it,” said McFarlane. “You just have to make sure you don’t go too fast or too slow, and look out for any traffic.”
During flights, the pilot must also be able to communicate with flight control, plan around weather conditions, and keep safety in check, according to AVID teacher Kathleen O’Brien, a formerly licensed pilot.
“There’s so much to learn and it’s not only physical but also head knowledge,” said O’Brien. “It would be a huge accomplishment if he gets his license.”
McFarlane’s parents have full confidence in his ability to succeed and be safe in his endeavor.
“I truly believe that riding a bicycle on the streets of San Ramon is a far greater danger,” said father Bob McFarlane.
Mr. McFarlane was, in fact, the person who gave his son the final push to go out and work toward his license, after giving him his first lesson as a Christmas present last year.
McFarlane, who wants to be a professional business pilot, sees tremendous benefits and opportunities as a result of his father’s gift.
“It’s going to open up a lot of opportunities when I’m older,” said McFarlane. “It’s something that a lot of kids my age aren’t really given the opportunity to do and I’m thankful for the fact that I can do it myself.”
His friends agree that this unique hobby will be beneficial for him in the future.
“It takes a lot of work, and any pilot who works at it is going to be good,” said freshman Mason Friedman, who is also interested in getting a pilot’s license. “It’d be really helpful to start young if he did have a pilot career.”
Although McFarlane is unable to fly solo until age 16 and with friends at age 17, students admire him for working toward his goals.
“When he actually gets his license, it will be a bigger deal,” said freshman Dylan Stalcup. “He can fly us around.”
While McFarlane’s goal is to fly to Alaska in the future, the usual destination for his flights is a distance about as far as Tracy. He once took a trip around the San Francisco Bay.
“I flew 500 feet above the Transamerica Pyramid and did a turn around the top of it,” said McFarlane. “That’s actually the closest you can get to it.”
Friends respect McFarlane’s unique skill, but according to his dad, he is very humble about it.
“However, just ask him how cool his last lesson was and you’ll see a very big smile,” said Mr. McFarlane.
What began as a 10-year-old’s dream to fly an airplane grew into a promising opportunity, which McFarlane gladly received.
Now, that opportunity has become a reality for McFarlane, one with a bright future ahead.
“(It’s) just the feeling of thinking, ‘Oh I can go anywhere,’” said McFarlane. “There’s not really a limit to the distance I can go.”
